Toilet module attachment assembly and method of use

ABSTRACT

A toilet module attachment assembly that includes a retainer member that is adapted to be secured to a wall. The retainer member includes a wall attachment flange and a press fit portion extending generally inwardly from the wall attachment flange. When the retainer member is secured to a wall a channel is defined between the wall and the press fit portion. The attachment assembly also includes a seal member that includes a bulge portion that is received in the channel of the retainer member.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/080,377, filed Mar. 24, 2016, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/668,770, filed Mar. 25, 2015, now U.S.Pat. No. 9,567,082, which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/971,495, filed Mar. 27, 2014, and U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/110,380, filed Jan. 30, 2015, all of which areincorporated by reference herein in their entireties. U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/668,770 also claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/235,278 filed Sep. 30, 2015, which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a toilet module, and moreparticularly to a toilet module for use with a lavatory in an aircraft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Commercial aircraft, such as the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737, aretypically constructed from modular components, the size, weight andconstruction of which are dictated by many considerations, includingfuselage dimensions, aesthetic and safety. Many of these requirementsare imposed by law or regulation. Aircraft components, such as overheadstowage compartments, seats, lavatories, galleys, lighting systems, etc.are all required to function within strictly confined spaces.

Manufacturers of aircraft are constantly refining interior aircraftdesigns to achieve more comfort and utility for passengers and crewwithin carrier-imposed restraints on cost, weight, maintenancedown-time, and safety. Commercial passenger aircraft generally includelavatories for use by passengers and crew that include a toilet therein.Cleaning of and replacement of the toilet can often prove difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there isprovided a toilet module attachment assembly that includes a retainermember that is adapted to be secured to a wall. The retainer memberincludes a wall attachment flange and a press fit portion extendinggenerally inwardly from the wall attachment flange. When the retainermember is secured to a wall a channel is defined between the wall andthe press fit portion. The attachment assembly also includes a sealmember that includes a bulge portion that is received in the channel ofthe retainer member. In a preferred embodiment, the press fit portionincludes a lip and the bulge portion includes an innermost peak. Whenthe retainer member is secured to a wall, a first width is definedbetween the lip and the wall and a second width is defined between theinnermost peak of the bulge portion and the wall, and the first width isless than the second width. Preferably, the bulge portion extendsgenerally downwardly.

In a preferred embodiment, the attachment assembly includes a hookconnection at a bottom thereof. Preferably, the hook connection includesa first hook on the retainer member and a second hook on the seal memberthat are engaged with one another. In a preferred embodiment, the firstand second hooks each include a ramp portion. Preferably, the sealmember includes at least one protrusive portion extending therefrom thatis received in a notch defined in the press fit portion. In a preferredembodiment, the wall attachment flange includes a plurality of insertsextending outwardly therefrom. Preferably, the wall attachment flangeincludes a plurality of openings defined therethrough that are eachpositioned adjacent one of the plurality of inserts and adhesive can beinserted through the openings and onto the inserts.

In a preferred embodiment, the seal member includes an inner seal edgethat is configured to contact the wall when the retainer member issecured to the wall. Preferably, the retainer member includes a supportflange extending inwardly therefrom and the seal member includes a sealflange extending inwardly therefrom The seal flange and the supportflange are configured to support a toilet shroud therebetween.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there isprovided a toilet module that includes a shroud that has first andsecond opposite edges and a toilet associated therewith and first andsecond attachment assemblies. The first attachment assembly includes afirst retainer member that is adapted to be secured to a first wall. Thefirst retainer member includes a first wall attachment flange and afirst press fit portion extending generally inwardly from the first wallattachment flange. When the first retainer member is secured to thefirst wall a first channel is defined between the first wall and thefirst press fit portion. The first attachment member also includes afirst seal member that includes a first bulge portion that is receivedin the first channel of the first retainer member. The first edge of theshroud is secured by at least one of the first retainer member or thefirst seal member. The second attachment assembly includes a secondretainer member that is adapted to be secured to a second wall. Thesecond retainer member includes a second wall attachment flange and asecond press fit portion extending generally inwardly from the secondwall attachment flange. When the second retainer member is secured tothe second wall a first channel is defined between the second wall andthe second press fit portion. The second attachment member also includesa second seal member that includes a second bulge portion that isreceived in the second channel of the second retainer member. The secondedge of the shroud is secured by at least one of the second retainermember or the second seal member.

In a preferred embodiment, the first retainer member includes a firstsupport flange extending inwardly therefrom and the second retainermember includes a second support flange extending inwardly therefrom.The first seal member includes a first seal flange extending inwardlytherefrom and the second seal member includes a second seal flangeextending inwardly therefrom. The first edge of the toilet shroud ispositioned between the first support flange and the first seal flangeand the second edge of the toilet shroud is positioned between thesecond support flange and the second seal flange.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there isprovided a method of securing a toilet module between opposing first andsecond walls. The toilet module including a shroud having first andsecond opposite edges, a back surface and a toilet associated therewith,a first retainer member secured to the first wall, and a second retainermember secured to the second wall. The method includes resting the backsurface of the toilet shroud on a first support flange associated withthe first retainer member, resting the back surface of the toilet shroudon a second support flange associated with the second retainer member(these steps may be done simultaneously), press fitting a bulge portionof the first seal member into a channel defined in the first retainermember, and press fitting a bulge portion of the second seal member intoa channel defined in the second retainer member (these steps may be donesimultaneously).

In a preferred embodiment, the method also includes engaging a firsthook on the first retainer member with a second hook on the first sealmember, and engaging a first hook on the second retainer member with asecond hook on the second seal member. The method can also includeengaging a ramp portion of the second hook on the first seal member witha ramp portion of the first hook on the first retainer member andengaging a ramp portion of the second hook on the second seal memberwith a ramp portion of the first hook on the second retainer member.When this is done the second hook slides over the first hook and thesecond hook slides over the first hook.

In a preferred embodiment, the method includes inserting a protrusiveportion extending from the first seal member into a notch defined in thefirst retainer member, and inserting a protrusive portion extending fromthe second seal member into a notch defined in the second retainermember for proper alignment. Preferably, a portion of the first sealmember is pressed against the first wall to provide a seal, and aportion of the second seal member is pressed against the second wall toprovide a seal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there isprovided a toilet module attachment assembly that includes a retainermember that is adapted to be secured to a wall and a seal member. Theretainer member includes a wall attachment flange and a press fitportion extending generally inwardly from the wall attachment flange.When the retainer member is secured to a wall a channel is definedbetween the wall and the press fit portion. The seal member includes areceiving portion having a groove defined therein and a bulge portionthat is received in the channel of the retainer member. In a preferredembodiment, the press fit portion includes a lip and the bulge portionincludes an innermost peak. When the retainer member is secured to awall a first width is defined between the lip and the wall and a secondwidth is defined between the innermost peak of the bulge portion and thewall and the first width is less than the second width. Preferably, thegroove faces generally inwardly and wherein the bulge portion extendsgenerally downwardly.

In a preferred embodiment, the attachment assembly includes a hookconnection at a bottom thereof. The hook connection preferably includesa first hook on the retainer member and a second hook on the seal memberthat are engaged with one another. The first and second hooks preferablyeach include a ramp portion.

In a preferred embodiment, the seal member includes at least oneprotrusive portion extending generally downwardly therefrom that isreceived in a notch defined in the press fit portion. Preferably, theseal member also includes at least one cylindrical protrusive portionextending generally inwardly therefrom that is received in a notchdefined in the press fit portion. In a preferred embodiment, the wallattachment flange includes a plurality of inserts extending outwardlytherefrom.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there isprovided a toilet module including a shroud that includes first andsecond opposite edges and a toilet associated therewith. The firstattachment assembly includes a retainer member that is adapted to besecured to a wall and that includes a wall attachment flange and a pressfit portion extending generally inwardly from the wall attachmentflange. When the retainer member is secured to a wall a channel isdefined between the wall and the press fit portion. The first attachmentassembly also includes a seal member that includes a receiving portionhaving a groove defined therein and a bulge portion that is received inthe channel of the retainer member. The first edge of the shroud isreceived in the groove. The second attachment assembly includes aretainer member that is adapted to be secured to a wall and thatincludes a wall attachment flange and a press fit portion extendinggenerally inwardly from the wall attachment flange. When the retainermember is secured to a wall a channel is defined between the wall andthe press fit portion. The second attachment assembly also includes aseal member that includes a receiving portion having a groove definedtherein and a bulge portion that is received in the channel of theretainer member. The second edge of the shroud is received in thegroove.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there isprovided a method of securing a toilet module between opposing first andsecond walls. The toilet module includes a shroud having first andsecond opposite edges and a toilet associated therewith, a firstretainer member secured to the first wall, and a second retainer membersecured to the second wall. The method includes the steps of (a)inserting the first edge of the shroud into a groove defined in a firstseal member, (b) inserting the second edge of the shroud into a groovedefined in a second seal member, (c) press fitting a bulge portion ofthe first seal member into a channel defined in the first retainermember, and (d) press fitting a bulge portion of the second seal memberinto a channel defined in the second retainer member.

In a preferred embodiment, the method further includes engaging a firsthook on the first retainer member with a second hook on the first sealmember, and engaging a first hook on the second retainer member with asecond hook on the second seal member. The method also preferablyincludes engaging a ramp portion of the second hook on the first sealmember with a ramp portion of the first hook on the first retainermember, whereby the second hook slides over the first hook, and engaginga ramp portion of the second hook on the second seal member with a rampportion of the first hook on the second retainer member, whereby thesecond hook slides over the first hook.

In a preferred embodiment, the method includes inserting a protrusiveportion extending generally downwardly from the first seal member into anotch defined in the first retainer member, and inserting a protrusiveportion extending generally downwardly from the second seal member intoa notch defined in the second retainer member.

In another preferred embodiment, the method includes inserting acylindrical protrusive portion extending generally inwardly from thefirst seal member into a notch defined in the first retainer member,inserting a cylindrical protrusive portion extending generally inwardlyfrom the second seal member into a notch defined in the second retainermember prior to step (c), and pivoting the shroud downwardly. Afterpivoting the shroud downwardly, the method can also include inserting aprotrusive portion extending generally downwardly from the first sealmember into a notch defined in the first retainer member, and insertinga protrusive portion extending generally downwardly from the second sealmember into a notch defined in the second retainer member. The steps ofthe method can be performed in any desired order.

In a preferred embodiment, the shroud extends between two walls that arepart of a lavatory monument. In a preferred embodiment the assemblyincludes no mechanical fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, rivets, etc.) andno RTV sealant. However, this is not a limitation and mechanicalfasteners and/or RTV sealant can be used as desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet module in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the toilet module of FIG. 1with one of the retainer members attached to the wall;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view from the top showing a portion ofthe toilet module of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view showing the shroud received in thegroove of the seal member, the seal member received in the retainermember and the retainer member attached to the wall;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view showing the shroud received in thegroove of the seal member, the seal member exploded from the retainermember and the retainer member attached to the wall;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of a portion of the toilet module of FIG. 1showing the hook connection;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a portion of the toilet module of FIG.1 showing the hook connection;

FIG. 6B is an exploded perspective view of the components shown in FIG.6A;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the attachment assemblyshowing how the seal member connects to the retainer member;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the attachment assembly showing theseal member connected to the retainer member;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a lavatory with the toilet module ofFIG. 1 installed therein;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the lavatory of FIG. 7 with the toiletmodule exploded therefrom;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a toilet module in accordance withanother preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the toilet module of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view from the top showing a portionof the toilet module of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14A is a cross-sectional view showing the shroud against thesupport flange of the retainer member, the seal member received in theretainer member and the retainer member attached to the wall;

FIG. 14B is a cross-sectional view showing the shroud and the sealmember exploded from the retainer member and the retainer memberattached to the wall;

FIG. 15A is a perspective view of a portion of the toilet module of FIG.11 showing the hook connection;

FIG. 15B is an exploded perspective view of the components shown in FIG.15A;

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the attachment assemblyshowing how the seal member connects to the retainer member; and

FIG. 17 is an elevational view of the attachment assembly showing theseal member connected to the retainer member.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of thedrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description and drawings are illustrative and are not tobe construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described toprovide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, in certaininstances, well-known or conventional details are not described in orderto avoid obscuring the description. References to one or an embodimentin the present disclosure can be, but not necessarily are references tothe same embodiment; and, such references mean at least one of theembodiments.

Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment”means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic describedin connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodimentof the-disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” invarious places in the specification are not necessarily all referring tothe same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodimentsmutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features aredescribed which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others.Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirementsfor some embodiments but not other embodiments.

The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinarymeanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in thespecific context where each term is used. Certain terms that are used todescribe the disclosure are discussed below, or elsewhere in thespecification, to provide additional guidance to the practitionerregarding the description of the disclosure. For convenience, certainterms may be highlighted, for example using italics and/or quotationmarks: The use of highlighting has no influence on the scope and meaningof a term; the scope and meaning of a term is the same, in the samecontext, whether or not it is highlighted.

It will be appreciated that the same thing can be said in more than oneway. Consequently, alternative language and synonyms may be used for anyone or more of the terms discussed herein. No special significance is tobe placed upon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein.Synonyms for certain terms are provided. A recital of one or moresynonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examplesanywhere in this specification including examples of any terms discussedherein is illustrative only, and is not intended to further limit thescope and meaning of the disclosure or of any exemplified term.Likewise, the disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given inthis specification.

Without intent to further limit the scope of the disclosure, examples ofinstruments, apparatus, methods and their related results according tothe embodiments of the present disclosure are given below. Note thattitles or subtitles may be used in the examples for convenience of areader, which in no way should limit the scope of the disclosure. Unlessotherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein havethe same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in theart to which this disclosure pertains. In the case of conflict, thepresent document, including definitions, will control.

It will be appreciated that terms such as “front,” “back,” “top,”“bottom,” “side,” “short,” “long,” “up,” “down,” “aft,” “forward,”“inboard,” “outboard” and “below” used herein are merely for ease ofdescription and refer to the orientation of the components as shown inthe figures. It should be understood that any orientation of thecomponents described herein is within the scope of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 1-10 show a toilet module 10 in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention. As shown, in a preferredembodiment, the toilet module 10 generally includes attachmentassemblies 12 on both sides of a shroud 14. The shroud includes a toilet16. The toilet 16 can be attached to or unitary with the shroud 14. Thetype of toilet or components thereof is not a limitation on the presentinvention. For example, the toilet 16 can include a bowl 18 and a hingedseat 20, as is known in the art.

The attachment assemblies 12 are basically mirror images of one another.Therefore, for simplicities sake, only one attachment assembly 12 willbe described herein. Generally, the attachment assembly 12 includes aretainer member 22 that is adapted to be secured to a wall 24 and a sealmember 26. As is best shown in FIGS. 3-4, the retainer member 22includes a wall attachment flange 28 and a press fit portion 30extending outwardly from the wall attachment flange 28. The press fitportion 30 includes a channel 32 that is more clearly defined when thepress fit portion 30 is attached to a wall, as shown in FIG. 3. The sealmember includes a receiving portion 34 having a groove 36 definedtherein and a bulge portion 38 that is received in the channel 32 of thepress fit portion 30.

In a preferred embodiment, the seal member 26 is made of a pliablematerial, such as rubber, so that the bulge portion 38 can be presseddown and into the channel 32, as shown in FIG. 4A. As shown in FIG. 4B,the retainer member 22 includes a lip 40 thereon and the width W1 of thespace between the lip 40 and wall 24 is less than the width W2 of thespace between the innermost portion or peak of the bulge portion 38 andthe wall 24. This requires the bulge portion 38 to be press fit into thechannel 32, and the pliable nature of the bulge portion 38 allows thisto happen.

The pliable nature of the seal member 26 also allows the shroud 14 to bereceived and retained in the groove 36, as shown in FIG. 4A.Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the seal member 26 includes aseal edge 42 that presses against the wall 24 and helps prevent liquidor other items from getting down into the channel 32. In a preferredembodiment, the seal edges 42 on both sides of the toilet module alwaysseal against the wall 24, regardless of the width of the shroud 14. Thisis represented by the space or tolerance 43 shown in FIG. 4A between theouter edge of the shroud and the inner edge of the groove 36. This ismade possible by the size or width of the retainer member 22 (femaleportion of the mating arrangement) and the bulge portion 38 (maleportion of the mating arrangement) This sizing always keeps the sealedge 42 pressed against wall 24. In other words, the retainer member 22ensures that the seal edge 42 is pressed to the wall 24 (the datum forthe seal is the retainer member 22, not the shroud itself). And, theshroud 14 “floats” in the groove 36 (see space 43) to ensure the properseal to the wall. Also, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the receivingportion 34 provides a seal 45 with the shroud.

As shown in FIG. 5A-6B, in a preferred embodiment, the attachmentassembly 12 includes a hook connection 44 at a bottom thereof. Theretainer member 22 includes a first hook 46 and the seal member 26includes a second hook 48. When the seal member 26 is pressed down onthe retainer member 22, the second hook 48 includes a ramp portion 50that rides or slides over a ramp portion 52 on the first hook 46 untilthe first and second hooks are engaged or latched, as shown in FIGS. 5and 6A. To disengage the hooks, a user pulls generally downwardly on thesecond hook 48 and then pulls the seal member 26 and retainer member 22apart. In a preferred embodiment, the first hook 46 is located on anextension member 60 that extends generally inwardly and downwardly fromthe wall attachment flange 28. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment,the seal member 26 and retainer member 22 also include complementarycavities 62 and 64 that allow the first and second hooks 46 and 48 toengage one another (see FIG. 6B). The seal member 26 also can include abottom seal extension 66 that partially defines the groove 36 andprotects a bottom flange 14 a of the shroud 14. In an embodiment, thebottom seal extension 66 engages the floor of the lavatory, therebyproviding a seal.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7-8, in a preferred embodiment, the attachmentassembly 12 includes means for registering or aligning the seal member26 with the retainer member 22. In a preferred embodiment, the sealmember 26 includes protrusive portions 54 a and 54 b that extenddownwardly 54 a (see FIG. 7) and inwardly 54 b (FIG. 3) that mate withnotches 56 in the press fit portion 30. When installing or attaching theseal member 26 to the retainer member 22, the cylindrical protrusiveportion 54 b is placed in the corresponding notch 56 first and the sealmember is pivoted downwardly until the downwardly extending protrusiveportions 54 a are received in the corresponding notches 56. Then, thehooks are engaged with one another as described above.

It will be appreciated that the retainer member 22 can be attached tothe wall 24 by any method, such as gluing, welding, riveting, threadedfasteners, etc. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1, 6A and6B, the wall attachment flange 28 includes inserts 57 extendingoutwardly therefrom that are inserted into openings in the walls andglued or potted therein. The adhesive can be inserted through openings57 a in the wall attachment flange 28. The wall attachment flange 28 canalso include a channel 47 which can be filled with glue or adhesive tosecure the flange to the wall 24. The channel 47 can be sized so as tomeasure and provide a predetermined amount of glue. The channel 47 canrun the entire or at least part of the length of the wall attachmentflange 28.

To install the toilet module 10, first, the retainer members 22 aresecured to opposing walls 24 in a lavatory 100 and the seal members 26are secured on opposite sides of the shroud 14 by placing the oppositesides of the shroud 14 in the grooves 36. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, theshroud 14 includes the bottom flange 14 a that is inserted into a bottomportion of the groove 36. The cylindrical protrusive portions 54 b arethen placed in the corresponding notches 56 and the shroud 14 togetherwith the seal members 26 (referred to herein as the shroud assembly 58)is pivoted downwardly until the downwardly extending protrusive portions54 a are received in the corresponding notches 56. Simultaneously, theseal members 26 are pushed inwardly/downwardly so that the bulgeportions 38 are received in the channels 32. The second hooks 46 arepushed inwardly so that the ramp portions 50 ride up and over the rampportions 52 of the first hooks 48, thereby engaging the hooks with oneanother. The steps for securing the shroud assembly 58 to the retainermembers 22 can be done in any order.

FIGS. 11-17 show another preferred embodiment of a toilet module 70.Toilet module 70 is similar to toilet module 10 described above and likenumbers refer to like parts in the drawings. As shown, in a preferredembodiment, the toilet module 70 generally includes attachmentassemblies 72 on both sides of a shroud 14. The shroud includes a toilet16. The toilet 16 can be attached to or unitary with the shroud 14.

The attachment assemblies 72 are basically mirror images of one another.Therefore, for simplicities sake, only one attachment assembly 72 willbe described herein (the right attachment assembly 72 when facing thetoilet module 70). Generally, the attachment assembly 72 includes aretainer member 22 that is adapted to be secured to a wall and a sealmember 26. As is best shown in FIGS. 12-14B, the retainer member 22includes a wall attachment flange 28, a press fit portion 30 extendingoutwardly from the wall attachment flange 28 and a support flange 31.The press fit portion 30 includes a channel 32 that is more clearlydefined when the press fit portion 30 is attached to a wall. The sealmember 26 includes a seal flange 74 having a lip 76 defined on an endthereof and a bulge portion 38 that is received in the channel 32 of thepress fit portion 30.

In a preferred embodiment, the seal member 26 (or at least a portionthereof) is made of a pliable material, such as rubber, so that thebulge portion 38 can be pressed down and into the channel 32, as shownin FIG. 14A. As shown in FIG. 14B, the retainer member 22 includes a lip40 thereon and the width W1 of the space between the lip 40 and wall 24is less than the width W2 of the space between the innermost portion orpeak of the bulge portion 38 and the wall 24. This requires the bulgeportion 38 to be press fit into the channel 32, and the pliable natureof the bulge portion 38 allows this to happen.

The pliable nature of the seal member 26 also allows the lip seal 76 toseal the front surface of the shroud 14, as shown in FIG. 14A.Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the seal member 26 includes aseal edge 42 that presses against the wall 24 and helps prevent liquidor other items from getting down into the channel 32. As shown in FIGS.14A and 14B, the seal edge 42 and lip seal 76 can be separate pieces orseparate materials from the remainder of the seal member 26. Forexample, the main body portion of the seal member 26 can be harder orless pliable than the seal edge 42 and lip seal 76.

In a preferred embodiment, the seal edges 42 on both sides of the toiletmodule always seal against the wall 24, regardless of the width of theshroud 14. This is made possible by the size or width of the retainermember 22 (female portion of the mating arrangement) and the bulgeportion 38 (male portion of the mating arrangement). This sizing alwayskeeps the seal edge 42 pressed against wall 24. In other words, theretainer member 22 ensures that the seal edge 42 is pressed to the wall24 (the datum for the seal is the retainer member 22, not the shrouditself).

As shown in FIG. 15A-17, in a preferred embodiment, the attachmentassembly 12 includes a hook connection 44 at a bottom thereof. Theretainer member 22 includes a first hook 46 and the seal member 26includes a second hook 48. When the seal member 26 is pressed down onthe retainer member 22, the second hook 48 includes a ramp portion 50that rides or slides under a ramp portion 52 on the first hook 46 untilthe first and second hooks are engaged or latched (with the first hook50 received in a pocket 51). To disengage the hooks, a user pullsgenerally downwardly on the second hook 48 and then pulls the sealmember 26 and retainer member 22 apart. In a preferred embodiment, thefirst hook 46 is located on an extension member 60 that extendsgenerally inwardly and downwardly from the wall attachment flange 28.Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the seal member 26 and retainermember 22 also include complementary cavities 62 and 64 that allow thefirst and second hooks 46 and 48 to engage one another (see FIG. 15B).The seal member 26 also can include a bottom seal extension 66. In anembodiment, the bottom seal extension 66 engages the floor of thelavatory, thereby providing a seal.

As shown in FIGS. 15A-17, in a preferred embodiment, the attachmentassembly 12 includes means for registering or aligning the seal member26 with the retainer member 22. In a preferred embodiment, the sealmember 26 includes protrusive portion 54 b that extends inwardly (FIG.15B) and mates with notch 56 in the press fit portion 30. Wheninstalling or attaching the seal member 26 to the retainer member 22,the cylindrical protrusive portion 54 b is placed in the correspondingnotch 56 first and the seal member is pivoted downwardly until the bulgeportion 38 is received in the channel 32. Then, the hooks are engagedwith one another as described above.

It will be appreciated that the retainer member 22 can be attached tothe wall 24 by any method, such as gluing, welding, riveting, threadedfasteners, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the wall attachment flange 28includes inserts 57 extending outwardly therefrom that are inserted intoopenings in the walls and glued or potted therein.

To install the toilet module 70, first, the retainer members 22 aresecured to opposing walls in a lavatory. The shroud 14 (together withthe toilet 16) is then positioned on the opposite support flanges 31 ofthe retainer members 22. The cylindrical protrusive portions 54 b of theseal members 26 are then placed in the corresponding notches 56 andbulge portions 38 are pressed into the channels 32, as shown in FIG.14A. The second hooks 46 are pushed inwardly so that the ramp portions50 ride up and over the ramp portions 52 of the first hooks 48, therebyengaging the hooks with one another. The seal flange 74 rests on thefront surface of the shroud 14. The steps for securing the shroudassembly 58 (the shroud 14 and seal member 26 to the retainer members 22can be done in any order.

It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art thatmodifications can be made to the present invention. For example, themeans for registration or alignment can be reversed and the protrusionscan be on the retainer member and the notches can be on the seal member.In another embodiment, the means for registration can be omitted and/orthe hooks can be omitted. Furthermore any features discussed with toiletmodule 10 can be included on toilet module 70 and vice versa.

In another preferred embodiment, the seal members can be unitary withthe opposite sides of the shroud. The bulge portions can extenddownwardly from the shroud and inserted into the channels of theretainer members.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout thedescription and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and thelike are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to anexclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of“including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,”“coupled,” or any variant thereof, means any connection or coupling,either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling ofconnection between the elements can be physical, logical, or acombination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,”and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall referto this application as a whole and not to any particular portions ofthis application. Where the context permits, words in the above DetailedDescription of the Preferred Embodiments using the singular or pluralnumber may also include the plural or singular number respectively. Theword “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of thefollowing interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, allof the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.

The above-detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the teachings to the precise formdisclosed above. While specific embodiments of and examples for thedisclosure are described above for illustrative purposes, variousequivalent modifications are possible within the scope of thedisclosure, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.Further, any specific numbers noted herein are only examples:alternative implementations may employ differing values, measurements orranges.

The teachings of the disclosure provided herein can be applied to othersystems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements andacts of the various embodiments described above can be combined toprovide further embodiments. Any measurements described or used hereinare merely exemplary and not a limitation on the present invention.Other measurements can be used. Further, any specific materials notedherein are only examples: alternative implementations may employdiffering materials.

Any patents and applications and other references noted above, includingany that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety. Aspects of the disclosure can bemodified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and conceptsof the various references described above to provide yet furtherembodiments of the disclosure.

These and other changes can be made to the disclosure in light of theabove Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments. While the abovedescription describes certain embodiments of the disclosure, anddescribes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the aboveappears in text, the teachings can be practiced in many ways. Details ofthe system may vary considerably in its implementation details, whilestill being encompassed by the subject matter disclosed herein. As notedabove, particular terminology used when describing certain features oraspects of the disclosure should not be taken to imply that theterminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specificcharacteristics, features or aspects of the disclosure with which thatterminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the followingclaims should not be construed to limit the disclosures to the specificembodiments disclosed in the specification unless the above DetailedDescription of the Preferred Embodiments section explicitly defines suchterms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the disclosure encompasses notonly the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways ofpracticing or implementing the disclosure under the claims.

Accordingly, although exemplary embodiments of the invention have beenshown and described, it is to be understood that all the terms usedherein are descriptive rather than limiting, and that many changes,modifications, and substitutions may be made by one having ordinaryskill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A seal member configured to be used with a toiletmodule attachment assembly that includes a retainer member that can beattached to a wall, the seal member comprising: a seal flange thatincludes an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein a lip extendsdownwardly from the lower surface of the seal flange, a bulge portionthat extends downwardly from the seal flange and includes an innersurface, wherein the bulge portion is configured to be received in achannel of the retainer member, wherein the seal flange includes acentral portion that defines a plane, an upper curved portion having anupper distal end and a lower curved portion having a lower distal end,wherein the upper curved portion curves upwardly above the plane suchthat the upper distal end extends in a first direction and the lowercurved portion curves downwardly below the plane such that the lowerdistal end extends in a second direction when the retainer member isattached to the wall, and wherein the bulge portion includes a centralportion, an upper curved portion and a lower curved portion, wherein theupper curved portion curves upwardly above the plane and the lowercurved portion curves downwardly below the plane, wherein the lipincludes a peak that extends downwardly toward the bulge portion, and aprotrusive portion extending inwardly from the inner surface of thebulge portion, wherein the protrusive portion is configured to bereceived in a notch defined in the retainer member.
 2. The seal memberof claim 1 further comprising a hook extending downwardly from the lowersurface of the seal flange on the lower curved portion of the sealflange.
 3. The seal member of claim 2 wherein the hook includes a rampportion that is configured to engage a ramp portion on the retainermember.
 4. The seal member of claim 2 wherein the hook and the lowersurface of the seal flange at least partially define a hook pocket. 5.The seal member of claim 1 wherein the lip is part of a lip seal that isattached to the bottom surface of the seal flange, and wherein the sealflange is made of a less pliable material than the lip seal.